Dubai firm in deal to promote energy efficiency

Dubai, December 24, 2013

Dubai Carbon Center of Excellence (DCCE), a leading carbon advisory, has partnered with Opower, a global leader in customer engagement solutions for the utility industry, to jointly work on energy efficiency and carbon reduction strategies.

Dubai Carbon works under the umbrella of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, the legislator for the energy sector in Dubai, as a private joined stock company owned by the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa), Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), Dubai Aluminium (Dubal) and the Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc).

The duo signed a MoU aimed at working together to:

•Promote energy efficiency and demand side management in Dubai
•Develop programs that support DEWA’s energy efficiency strategy
•Determine the savings potential and cost effectiveness of various energy efficiency programs in the region

In Dubai, there are large opportunities for energy efficiency policies across all sectors. The residential buildings are a significant portion of the built infrastructure, and are the largest consumers of energy.

As per government data, 60 per cent of energy consumption in the country comes from commercial and residential buildings and energy consumption is expected to rise; by 2019, there will be a 71 per cent increase in primary energy demand, and the total energy spend will be over $926 million.

Saeed Al Tayer, the vice chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy said: “Dubai has taken large steps towards building a green economy. Energy demand reduction is of foremost importance to the government of Dubai and international collaborations with the likes of Opower bring innovation.”

Waleed Salman, the chairman of Dubai Carbon, said the company was committed to working with partners to find ways to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency in the region.

"We are excited to join with Opower, a leader in energy efficiency, to develop solutions for Dubai that will help empower people to reduce overall energy consumption. We know that by giving people access to better information, along with the tools they need to save energy, we can vastly reduce energy demand and improve the reliability of our electricity grid," he added.

Alex Laskey, the president and founder of Opower, said: “As we continue to expand worldwide, we are excited to partner with utilities and organizations that care about helping consumers take control of their energy consumption, and save energy.”

“Dubai Carbon, Dewa and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, are already working together to promote energy efficiency in the region. We hope that our leadership in behavioral science and data analytics can help advance their work and bring new innovations to Dubai,” he noted.

The partnership with Dubai Carbon marks the latest in Opower’s global expansion. Currently, Opower works with utilities in eight countries, including the US, UK, Canada, France, Australia and New Zealand.-TradeArabia News Service